Kal Yafai vs Suguru Muranaka: Brit retains WBA super-flyweight championship via unanimous decision
KAL YAFAI retained his WBA super-flyweight championship with a wide unanimous points decision against a brave Suguru Muranaka.
Judges scored the contest 118-108, 119-107 and 119-107 in a hugely exciting fight at the Barclaycard Arena in Yafai’s first defence of his belt.
Kal Yafai started off the contest in rapid fashion and almost knocked out his opponent in the second roundReutersThe Japanese boxer was knocked down early on in the main event, but fought on valiantlyReuters
The 27-year-old started off in blistering fashion, and knocked down his Japanese opponent down in just the second round after a flurry of combinations.
However to Muranaka’s credit, he fought on valiantly and tried to assert his own dominance in the next few rounds, as he was landing with clean body shots.
Both fighters were treating the fans to an exciting spectacle, with the Brit slowly wearing the 31-year-old with hurtful punches in the eighth and ninth round.
Suguru Muranaka impressed against Kal Yafai and showed he has an incredible chin in the fightReuters
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Kal Yafai was landing with some brutal uppercuts in the contest as his opponent showed remarkable resilienceReuters
Despite launching an onslaught of barrages in the closing stages of the match-up, Yafai couldn't force a stoppage.
Muranaka duly deserved to hear the final bell in Birmingham, where Yafai moved to 22-0 and is now chasing huge unification fights in the division.
Speaking after the contest, the champion said: "I had to box my way through. I have a lot to work on, I am still a work-in-progress.
"He has one tough head, he took everything I had. My hands are in agony."
The Brit had his raised after he won via a wide unanimous decision at the Barclaycard ArenaReutersKal Yafai is still the WBA world super-flyweight champion after impressing in his first defenceReuters
Yafai's brother - Gamal Yafai was fighting on the undercard, and he claimed the WBC International super bantamweight title with a seventh round stoppage against the previously unbeaten Sean Davis.
Yafai, who has now won all of his 12 fights, put his opponent down six times en route to an impressive victory.
The 25-year-old proved to be too strong with his body shots, and looks just as classy as his older sibling.
Gamal Yafai cruised to a seventh round stoppage against Sean Davis, where he put his opponent down six timesPA:Press Association
Elsewhere Frankie Gavin got back to winning ways after he beat Renald Garrido in a poor eight round showing with judges scoring the fight 77-75.
The former IBF world title challenger won on a decision - a much-needed victory after his dramatic loss to Sam Eggington back in October.
Frankie Gavin got back to winning ways after losing to Sam Eggington, but it was a disappointing performancePA:Press AssociationThe Brit struggled for long periods against Renald Garrido as he made the fight tougher than it should have beenPA:Press Association
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